Thursday morning as I’m heading to the kitchen, I get a message from Bay that he’s fixed the rototiller and tool handles, offering to bring them by, and I happily accept. I’m taking biscuits out of the oven when there’s a knock at the door. Zander goes and lets Bay inside. “Morning, Summer,” he greets.
“Hi Bay. We’re about to eat breakfast. Care to join us?”
“Sure, if that’s okay?” He looks over at Zander, who nods.
“Great. Grab yourself some coffee while we fill some plates.” I grab three plates and cut open two biscuits on each and pass them to Zander. He scoops egg and sausage onto each biscuit, and we settle on the island to eat.
“I left the tools on the front porch for you, Summer.” Bay tells me between bites.
“Thank you for fixing them, Bay. What do I owe you?”
“Nothing, on the house. A cleaning was all the rototiller needed, and I had spare handles.”
“Are you sure?” Zander asks. “We can pay you for your time.”
“No need, really,” he smiles. “If you don’t have plans, I thought we could get to work on your garden today? We’re caught up at the shop, so I’m free.”
“That sounds like an excellent plan,” Zander answers. “What do you say, Summer?”
“Sure, that sounds good.” It's so nice of Bay to offer his help with the backbreaking work. I expected to spendthe week alone, assuming all my new friends would’ve had plans this week. “Last chance before I dig up the backyard, Zander.”
Zander tells me to go for it, offering to do the dishes, so Bay and I walk out to the backyard. I show him where the old vegetable gardens were and the water line sticking out of the grass. “I’m thinking we’ll run water lines through the gardens. So you don’t need to worry about watering manually,” Bay suggests.
“That’s actually a good idea.” It was rare that I had to water in Virginia, other than pots, since it wasn’t super hot outside and we had rain regularly. Despite the humidity, Bay tells me it doesn’t rain that often during the summer and the heat causes things to dry out quickly.
“Alright, are you thinking of raised beds or planting in the ground?”
“I’m not sure. Zander said there was probably enough lumber behind the garage for building raised beds. I used to grow veggies in them back home.”
“Then we can do that easily. Let’s look at the lumber.” I follow him behind the garage, and we make piles of all the different lumber that’s available. Bay makes a list on his phone, then heads into the garage. “I’m checking inventory for screws and such to build the beds,” Bay explains. “There is plenty here for what we need. Let’s go inside and I’ll draw up the plans I have in my head so you can see what I’m thinking?”
“Sure, that will help. Thanks.” We walk through the back patio doors and enter the dining room.
“Hey guys. What’s up?” Zander asks, putting the last few clean plates away from breakfast.
“Can I borrow a pencil and some paper, Z? I’m going to draw out what I’m thinking for the garden,” Bay asks.
“Of course. Head into the office. Bookshelf cabinet on the left,” Zander tells him.
Bay comes back quickly and sits at the table and draws. He calls me over to sit beside him. “So I was thinking you’d need about a 4ft wide garden bed. That way, you can reach the middle from either side. Did you have a length in mind?”
“I had some 4ft x 4ft beds and some 4ft x 8ft beds before.”
“We can build both sizes. Is there anything else you need built besides the garden beds and irrigation system?”
“Um, no, not now. I’ll need to get some soil and compost to fill the beds, though.” I’m assuming the soil in the backyard is pretty good with all the plants and trees Mara has.
“There’s a landscape supply company down the road, Summer. They have soil mixes and compost they can deliver,” Zander comments.
“That works.” This is coming together quickly. It will be good for me to get back into gardening, though. Despite not having missed it in the past year, I have a feeling I will get the itch soon enough.
Bay finishes drawing, then slides the page over to me. “So there’s enough lumber for three long beds and six square beds,” he points to his diagram.
“Why don’t I drive you guys to the building supply company and landscape supply so we can get what you need?” Zander offers.
I nod. “Let me grab my wallet.”
I get up to go to my room, but Zander touches my arm. “Let me get this, please.”
